Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,651 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,223 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,796 in Singapore, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 64% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Singapore is 172% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$10.73 SGD 13.78

9.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

$78.5 SGD 101

-46.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.88 SGD 10.13

35.03%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.8

$4.92 SGD 6.32

-28.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.09

$1.63 SGD 2.10

-7.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.82

$1.23 SGD 1.58

-21.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$7.85 SGD 10.08

-62.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$9.61 SGD 12.34

-53.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

$3.07 SGD 3.95

-55.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

$2.41 SGD 3.10

-21.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

$2.81 SGD 3.61

-41.64%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

$3.37 SGD 4.34

-25.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$19.34 SGD 24.85

-56.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$11.36 SGD 14.59

-26.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

$22.95 SGD 29.49

-53.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

$4.52 SGD 5.81

-42.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

$2.94 SGD 3.78

-50.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

$4.86 SGD 6.25

-60.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

$2.63 SGD 3.38

-20.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

$2.47 SGD 3.18

-27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

$2.16 SGD 2.78

1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

$2.01 SGD 2.58

-48.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$1.51 SGD 1.94

-28.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

$13.24 SGD 17.01

-69.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$25.27 SGD 32.47

-59.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

$4.31 SGD 5.54

-60.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

$5.20 SGD 6.68

-50.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$1.58 SGD 2.03

-67.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

$93.7 SGD 120

-71.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$3.51 SGD 4.50

-7.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

$0.77 SGD 1.00

223.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$16.11 SGD 20.70

-79.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.59

$2.20 SGD 2.82

-40.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.2K

$142.1K SGD 182.6K

-78.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$404.9K

$129.1K SGD 165.9K

-81.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,432

$160 SGD 205

-48.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

$18.36 SGD 23.58

21.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$36.57 SGD 46.98

-19.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$892

$117 SGD 150

-55.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$12.39 SGD 15.92

47.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.5

$11.65 SGD 14.97

-56.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,470

$1,184 SGD 1,521

-83.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$29.9K SGD 38.4K

-82.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

$82.2 SGD 106

-55.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$43.04 SGD 55.3

-7.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

$107 SGD 138

-26.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

$131 SGD 168

-33.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$3,101 SGD 3,984

-68.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

$2,280 SGD 2,929

-79.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$6,201 SGD 7,967

-73.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$3,793 SGD 4,873

-67.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

$23.5K SGD 30.2K

-83.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

$16.5K SGD 21.2K

-60.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$4,285 SGD 5,505

-84.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

3.19

257.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Singapore: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,101 in Singapore. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 545% higher in Singapore, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $78.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $457 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 182%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,477 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $3,651 in Singapore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 254% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Singapore at $3,651. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.